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Siblings Fight Over Halloween Costumes
Filed under: Holidays, Expert Advice: Babies, Behavior: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Behavior: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Big Kids, Behavior: Tweens, Expert Advice: Tweens, Behavior: Teens, Expert Advice: Teens, Expert Advice: Family Time
Dear AdviceMama:
Both my boys insist that the ONLY thing they want to be for Halloween is Wolverine. They came up with the idea on the same day, and have fought, bribed and done everything under the sun to convince the other to pick something else. Neither boy is budging. I've had it with trying to negotiate a solution. Help!
Signed,
Weary of Warring!
Dear Weary,
Here is what I would suggest you do about your kids' costume conflict: Absolutely nothing! Childhood is filled with frustrating moments. In a sense, each challenging experience that children successfully navigate provides them with another notch in their belt to remind them that they can handle life's disappointments. There is no other way for children to grow into adaptable, resilient adults other than discovering that even if they don't get the longed for toy, costume or girlfriend, they can survive and thrive.All of us know grown-ups who fall apart when upsetting things happen. Your brother-in-law's loan falls through and he screams obscenities at the loan officer. Your dog leaves something undesirable on your neighbor's lawn, and she leaves a furious ten-page letter on your doorstep. Children who haven't mastered the art of adaptation grow up to become adults incapable of handling life when it doesn't go their way.
I understand the temptation to try to negotiate a solution between your boys. But the fact is, your sons are going to either figure out a solution ... or not. Your job is to lovingly support them as they express their anger or sadness. It is not to fix their problem. Stay out of the fray and let your sons know what you are -- and aren't -- willing to do, whether it's to provide them each with $20 toward a costume, helping them put together a unique get-up from the attic, or support them to trick-or-treat in a T-shirt and jeans.
If one of them threatens to boycott Halloween unless he gets his way, let him stay home. Don't invest the situation with more drama than it deserves. I'm guessing that if you step back and let your boys sort this out, they will.
Remember: We're not really raising children here. We're raising adults.
Yours in parenting support,
AdviceMama
AdviceMama, Susan Stiffelman, is a licensed and practicing psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in developmental psychology and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology. Her book, Parenting Without Power Struggles, is available on Amazon. Sign up to get Susan's free parenting newsletter.
Have a question for AdviceMama? Submit your question here.
Both my boys insist that the ONLY thing they want to be for Halloween is Wolverine. They came up with the idea on the same day, and have fought, bribed and done everything under the sun to convince the other to pick something else. Neither boy is budging. I've had it with trying to negotiate a solution. Help!
Signed,
Weary of Warring!
Dear Weary,
Here is what I would suggest you do about your kids' costume conflict: Absolutely nothing! Childhood is filled with frustrating moments. In a sense, each challenging experience that children successfully navigate provides them with another notch in their belt to remind them that they can handle life's disappointments. There is no other way for children to grow into adaptable, resilient adults other than discovering that even if they don't get the longed for toy, costume or girlfriend, they can survive and thrive.All of us know grown-ups who fall apart when upsetting things happen. Your brother-in-law's loan falls through and he screams obscenities at the loan officer. Your dog leaves something undesirable on your neighbor's lawn, and she leaves a furious ten-page letter on your doorstep. Children who haven't mastered the art of adaptation grow up to become adults incapable of handling life when it doesn't go their way.
I understand the temptation to try to negotiate a solution between your boys. But the fact is, your sons are going to either figure out a solution ... or not. Your job is to lovingly support them as they express their anger or sadness. It is not to fix their problem. Stay out of the fray and let your sons know what you are -- and aren't -- willing to do, whether it's to provide them each with $20 toward a costume, helping them put together a unique get-up from the attic, or support them to trick-or-treat in a T-shirt and jeans.
If one of them threatens to boycott Halloween unless he gets his way, let him stay home. Don't invest the situation with more drama than it deserves. I'm guessing that if you step back and let your boys sort this out, they will.
Remember: We're not really raising children here. We're raising adults.
Yours in parenting support,
AdviceMama
AdviceMama, Susan Stiffelman, is a licensed and practicing psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in developmental psychology and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology. Her book, Parenting Without Power Struggles, is available on Amazon. Sign up to get Susan's free parenting newsletter.
Have a question for AdviceMama? Submit your question here.









ReaderComments (Page 2 of 3)
10-28-2009 @ 9:16AM
Stacie said...I disagree with you saying to encourage them to trick or treat in jeans and a t shirt's. That completely takes the fun out of it for them and everyone else.
*Knock Knock*
"Trick or Treat!"
"Oh, and what are you little boys?"
"We didn't want to wear costume, so just give us the candy"
*Slams Door*
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10-28-2009 @ 9:26AM
Cathy said...I agree...flip a coin. You're the adult, act like one.
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10-28-2009 @ 9:44AM
iris said...Either they both are (because wolverine comes in many costumes) or flipping a coin
But they shouldnt be kept home or go trick or treating in a Tshirt and jeans because that looses the point of Samhain
I mean, if kids showed up to my door without a costume, especially young children, I wouldnt give them anything
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10-28-2009 @ 9:49AM
Bubba said...Cancel any Halloween plans and let them both sit at home.
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10-28-2009 @ 10:40AM
Angiebaby said...Dear AdviceMama, May I add to your excellent response?
Well, Weary of Warring, your two hard-headed little he-men won't compromise, huh? They have fought, bribed and done everything under the sun to convince the other to pick something else. Okay. But let us take a look at what they have not done. One has not sold the other on eBay, shot the other, called 911 about the damn costume, had their fellow gang members intimidate the other one, burned down the house in anger, needed "special" therapy sessions to get through the trauma, used this emotional tug-of-war as an excuse for failing grades, stealing or gaining 20 pounds, flushed the other one's goldfish down the commode while it was still... you know, or heaped sizzling buckets of guilt upon your shoulders because somehow it's all your fault.
Your kids are working it out with healthy, positive negotiating tactics. This is where you sing the Hallelujah chorus, or have a glass of wine for a job well done instead of needing it to make it until the little heathens' bedtime. When they have worked this out, they will have a teachable moment they will remember which will help them with future disagreements. Our society is so focused on what is wrong with our kids and pushing bad parenting skills that we don't even recognize normal, acceptable behavior patterns in our children or in our own parenting. Bottom line? You ain't got no damn problems.
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10-28-2009 @ 10:46AM
tsantanact said...Seems pretty easy to me. Maybe some moms don't know this but there's actually a couple of different versions of Wolverine. There's the "new school" version which you see in the movies and there's the comic book version, which is essentially Wolverine in a black and yellow jumpsuit type outfit.. the "X-Men" uniform. Each boy can be one version of the same character... hopefully they'll be able to agree which one gets the jumpsuit. :)
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10-28-2009 @ 10:58AM
Peachy said...Tell them there's nothing wrong with them BOTH being the same thing! If they have an issue with that, then NO ONE is Wolverine. Period. End of story & no more negotiations. This will encourage them to begin to work things out on their own. They'll know that if you can't share the idea or work it out on your own, then Mom is going to take that option away since you couldn't and hence, next time they'll try harder to figure something out! And don't be a wishy-washy parent either. Decide something and go with it. The worst thing to do is relent on anything or put "maybe"s into the deal.
I told my son to do something once and he said, "Look at me, Mom", so I did, wondering what he wanted. And he then said, "Yep, you're serious!" They have to know when you aren't going to give in anymore.
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10-28-2009 @ 11:43AM
Colorado person said...Cut the babie in two. Just kidding. Have the kids fight to the death for the honor of wearing wolverine. Or just have two wolverine's, 2 morans dressed up in the same identical stupid suit. I'm a parent, my kids are grown, somehow it all works out. Don't stress over the really stupid stuff. like this.
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10-28-2009 @ 12:03PM
Lori K said...Is there some reason they can't both be the same thing? They cold make the costumes look a little different too.
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10-28-2009 @ 12:20PM
lively said...You've GOT to be kidding! Who is the PARENT in this situation? Is there absolutely only ONE costume? Usually when you buy the cheapo costumes from the store, which is what this sounds like, there are more than ONE. Either get two, and let them both be the "coveted" character, or (and this is classic) TEACH THEM TO USE THEIR GOD GIVEN IMAGINATIONS to create a unique costume of their own. I've only bought costumes for my boys 1 time, and that time they told me (after all was said and done) that they had MORE fun when they used their imaginations to come up with a costume
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10-28-2009 @ 1:34PM
Shirley said...Why not let both boys wear the same kind of costume?
When my cousin and I were young, we often pretended to be the same heroine we'd seen in the movies and simply enlarged the character in our minds to be two (or twins) of the same. No big deal.
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10-28-2009 @ 3:14PM
AJ said...I would suggest one of them be 'movie" Wolverine and the other be "cartoon" Wolverine. If that doesn't work then say neither gets to be Wolverine and that's that.
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10-28-2009 @ 3:32PM
rmm said...DID YOU SEE THE ONE THE MICHELLE OBAMA IS WEARING, NOW THAT'S A SCARY COSTUME!!! OOPS, THAT'S MY MISTAKE, SHE WASN'T WEARING ONE!!!!!
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10-28-2009 @ 3:15PM
Hoping for change said...All of you who reply with suggested solutions have completely missed the point here and it is an important one. The boys greatest benefit comes from playing out the situation WITHOUT mommy supplying a solution for them! That is where they learn to cope. When mommy makes everything alright, junior remains a child. GIVE YOUR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP.
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11-03-2009 @ 10:33AM
SHELLY said...ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUS!!! These are children; Lady, get a grip and get a BACK BONE. . . PLEASE, do you know how many Wolverines your children are going to see on that night.... So what is the difference from other children and their siblings?? What are they going to do throw a tantrum every time they see another child in that costume! I'm confused here... I don't know maybe it's me... Tell them there is nothing wrong with the two of them wearing the same costume and if they still can't agree than neither of them should be Wolverine...... Then they would learn a valuable life lesson which is compromise and humility!!
A MOTHER WITH A SPINE
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10-28-2009 @ 3:33PM
Sharon Bielovitz said...I am all for kids learning to solve their own conflicts but how about giving them two choices - both go as Wolverine or neither go as Wolverine.
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10-28-2009 @ 3:42PM
who cares said...Who care.....why is story in the news? Tell the little punks that neither can have that outfit and they both stay in their rooms instead of trick or treating.
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10-28-2009 @ 3:49PM
Scott said...Duh. Why not let them both be Wolverine? If they both want to be the same thing, let them. Send them of in different directions around the neighbor hood. Every Halloween I see several Hanna Montannas, several Batmans, several witches, etc. Who would know or care if they were brothers?
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10-28-2009 @ 3:54PM
Trekwolf164 said...Let them both be Wolverine one can wear the Yellow X-man costume the other can wear Jeans and a black T-shirt like the Movie
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10-28-2009 @ 4:07PM
Patrick said...I tend to agree with those who think this is a non-issue. Let them haggle amongst themselves until the time comes to go buy the costumes or make them. Then it is decision time and they either make up their minds then and there or daddy makes it up for them. In my house, my kids have learned that when daddy gets to decide on things, it usually isn't what the kids wanted, so they tend to become a bit more flexible. Of course, if they still pitch a fit, they can go without Halloween this year. Again, having this approach tends to resolve a lot of issues before they get out of hand.
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